Location based access control for artificial conversational entities

ABSTRACT

Systems, methods, and software technology for providing access control with respect to messaging bots is disclosed herein. In an implementation, an access control service associates various messaging bots with various geographic areas. The system monitors a location of messaging clients with respect to the geographic areas and, in response to when at least one of the messaging clients has entered one of the geographic areas, grants an associated messaging bot with initial access to the messaging client to converse with an end user. Subsequent access is granted based on a level of engagement reached with respect to the messaging conversation.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

Artificial conversational entities, or conversation bots, are computerprograms that engage with end users in conversations. A messaging bot istype of conversation bot that converses with end users through textmessaging, for example. Conversational bots have proliferated in recenttimes and are becoming common features of the communication landscape,serving in a variety of operational circumstances and situations.

For example, airlines may utilize customer service bots to providecustomer service to end users through their text messaging applications,in lieu of phone calls. Retail organizations may utilize shopping botsto assist users with searching for and purchasing goods and services. Inmost of these cases, the use of a bot relieves the end user of having toreach a party through a dedicated website or application. Rather, theend user can simply converse with a commercial entity's conversationalbot using a messaging application or other such general purposecommunication tools.

While relatively popular with end users, the potentialover-proliferation of bots may at times result in sub-optimal deviceperformance and sub-optimal user experiences. Bots presently enjoyalmost unfettered access to end users, so long as a given operationalentity behind a bot has a user's contact information. For example, a botcan be deployed to text an end user repeatedly, and at inopportunemoments, at little to no cost to its operator. Such communications canwaste device resources, such as battery life and processing power, andare especially frustrating to users when originating from contextuallyirrelevant bots.

Overview

Access control technology is disclosed herein that controls the accessof messaging bots to messaging clients based on location and engagementlevels. In an implementation, an access control service associatesvarious messaging bots with various geographic areas. The systemmonitors a location of messaging clients with respect to the geographicareas and, in response to when at least one of the messaging clients hasentered one of the geographic areas, grants an associated messaging botwith initial access to the messaging client to converse with an enduser. Subsequent access is granted based on a level of engagementreached with respect to the messaging conversation.

This Overview is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the TechnicalDisclosure. It may be understood that this Overview is not intended toidentify key features or essential features of the claimed subjectmatter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimedsubject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with referenceto the following drawings. While several implementations are describedin connection with these drawings, the disclosure is not limited to theimplementations disclosed herein. On the contrary, the intent is tocover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents.

FIG. 1A illustrates an operational environment in an implementation ofaccess control for messaging bots.

FIG. 1B illustrates a process employed by an access control service.

FIG. 1C illustrates an operational scenario in an implementation.

FIG. 2 illustrates another operational environment in an implementation.

FIG. 3 illustrates an operational sequence in an implementation.

FIG. 4 illustrates an operational sequence in an implementation.

FIG. 5 illustrates an operational sequence in an implementation.

FIG. 6 illustrates a user experience in an implementation.

FIG. 7 illustrates a user experience in an implementation.

FIG. 8 illustrates a computing system suitable for implementing theaccess control technology disclosed herein, including any of thearchitectures, elements, processes, and operational scenarios andsequences illustrated in the Figures and discussed below in theTechnical Disclosure.

TECHNICAL DISCLOSURE

Access control technology is disclosed herein that provides messagingbots with location based access to messaging clients (and theirassociated end users). The access is maintained or restricted based on alevel of engagement that a given bot may achieve with respect to aconversation with an end user. Such geo-fencing technology for messagingbots allows a geographically relevant bot to be surfaced to an end user,while also mitigating the occurrence of nuance interactions that mayresult in sub-optimal device performance and poor user experiences. Whena user leaves a geographic area, the bot or bots that had access to theuser will no longer, unless warranted by their level of engagement in aconversation.

In an implementation, messaging bots are registered with an accesscontrol service such that each bot is associated with one or morespecific geographic areas. The geographic areas may be defined in termsof places, zip code, geographic boundaries, specific coordinates, or anyother suitable mechanism. To register a messaging bot, an operationalentity associated with the bot interfaces with the access controlservice to submit registration information that identifies thegeographic area to be linked to their bot. The registration informationmay also include contact information for notifying the bot or some otherelement associated with the operational entity when an end user hasentered their area.

The access control service monitors the location of messaging clientsand evaluates whether or not a given messaging client is in an areaassociated with a messaging bot. When a messaging client enters an areaassociated with a bot, the access control service responsively grantsthe messaging bot with access to the messaging client. This may include,for example, providing a service handle or alias with which tocommunicate with the messaging client.

The bot can then initiate a conversation under the initial accessgranted to it by the access control service. However, the access controlservice monitors the communications sent from and/or to the messagingbot and evaluates a level of engagement (or lack thereof) on behalf ofthe target user. If the user is responsive to the conversation asindicated by a reply or reply messages, then the messaging bot isgranted continued access subsequent to its initial attempt to start theconversation. In some implementations, a contact for the bot may even beadded to the end user's contacts if the level of engagement issufficient.

However, if the end user generally ignores the messaging bot, asindicated by a lack of reply messages, then any subsequent access may bedisallowed, restricted, or otherwise prohibited by the access controlservice, even if the messaging client remains in the geographic areaassociated with the messaging bot. This may prevent nuancecommunications and optimize device performance, but may also provide anopportunity for other messaging bots to contact the user.

For instance, if the first bot is ignored by the user, then the accesscontrol service may notify a second bot associated with the samegeographic area that the messaging client is present and available. Thesecond bot may then attempt to initiate a conversation.

If a user ignores one or more bots upon entering a geographic area, thebot may be prevented from accessing the user's messaging client evenwhen the messaging client re-enters the same area. Timers may beemployed in some situations to ensure that the re-entry is close enoughin time to the initial entry to warrant the restricted access. If a userre-enters an area at a much later time, then a bot that was previouslyignored may still be granted access due to the amount of time elapsedsince the occurrence.

As mentioned, a selected bot may be provided with the service handle fora specific messaging client, thus allowing the bot to communicatedirectly with the messaging client through a messaging service. However,such an arrangement may leave the messaging client susceptible tounauthorized contact by a messaging bot outside of a particulargeographic boundary. Aliases may be used to mitigate such problems andto ensure the privacy of a messaging client and associated end user. Forexample, an alias for an end user could be provided to a messaging botand the alias translated by either the access control service or someother element in the messaging service, in order to deliver a message ormessages to a targeted messaging client.

A messaging bot could be restricted from communicating with a messagingclient in a variety of ways, including changing the messaging client'salias. Thus, if an alias expires after a certain amount of time, and ifa messaging bot is not provided with a new alias, then the bot iseffectively restricted from communicating with the client.

In another example, either the access control service or another elementin a messaging service could provide a filtering and blocking function.The access control service could inspect incoming messages for anoriginating identifier and a destination identifier. If the messagingbot from which the message originates is not allowed to contact themessaging client associated with the destination identifier, then theaccess control service could delete or block the message, reply to thesender to refrain from sending any more messages, or take othercorrective action that would prevent the bot from accessing the client.

FIG. 1A illustrates an operational environment 100 in an implementationof access control for messaging bots. Operational environment 100includes an access control service 101, a messaging client 103,communication network 105, and messaging bots 111, 113, and 115. Otherelements may be included in operational environment 100, such as amessaging service, but are not shown for purposes of clarity.

Access control service 101 is representative of any service implementedin software on a suitable computing system that is capable ofcontrolling bot access to messaging clients as described herein.Computing system 801 in FIG. 8 is representative of a computing systemthat may be employed to implement access control service 101. Accesscontrol service 101 may be integrated in the context of a messagingservice or a larger, multi-modal communication service, but may also beimplemented as a stand-alone service.

Messaging client 103 is representative of any messaging application thatmay be implemented on a mobile phone, tablet, laptop, or desktopcomputer, or any other suitable computing device. Messaging client 103may be integrated in the context of a larger communication applicationor may be implemented as a stand-alone application. Examples ofmessaging client 103 include, but are not limited to, instant messagingapplications, short messaging service (SMS) messaging applications, andother similar applications. Skype® and Skype for Business®, AppleiMessage®, Google Chat™ and Hangouts™, WhatsApp®, and Facebook®Messenger are examples of messaging client 103.

Messaging client 103 connects to a messaging service (not shown) inorder to communicate with other messaging clients on the service.Messaging bots 111, 113, 115 are representative of artificialconversational entities that may connect to the same messaging serviceon order to communication with messaging client 103 and other clients.In other words, messaging bots 111, 113, and 115 are themselves clientsof the messaging service.

Communication network 105 is representative of any communication networkor networks over which access control service 101, messaging client 103,and messaging bots 111, 113, and 115 may communicate. Examples ofcommunication network 105 include internets, intranets, the Internet,wireless and wired networks, public and private networks, local areanetworks and wide area networks, and any combination or variationthereof.

Geographic areas 121, 123, and 125 are representative of distinctgeographic areas that may be logically associated with messaging bots.Each area may be representative of, for example, a specific building,zip code, geographic boundary, set of coordinates, or any otheridentifiable geographic area.

FIG. 1B illustrates a process 150 employed by access control service 101in the context of providing access control over messaging bots. Process150 may be implemented in program instructions in the context of any ofthe applications, application modules or components, or other suchprogramming elements that constitute access control service 101. Theprogram instructions direct the underlying computing system or systemsthat provide an access control service to operate as follows.

Referring parenthetically to the steps illustrated in FIG. 1B, an accesscontrols service under the control of process 150 associates messagingbots with geographic areas (step 151). This may include, for example,associating a particular bot with a set of addresses, geographiccoordinates, zip codes, or other such characteristics of a geographicarea. The associations are made in response to requests to register aparticular bot with one or more geographic areas. The requests mayoriginate from the bots themselves, from provisioning tools or portalsprovided for registering bots, or even through a manual process in somesituations.

As messaging clients move about, they periodically report theirlocations to the access control service, which is received by the accesscontrol service in the form of location information (step 153). Thelocation information indicates the precise location of a client bygeographic coordinates or a known physical address, a general locationof the client by zip code, cell tower, or wireless access point, or insome other manner.

The access control service then determines if a given messaging clienthas entered a monitored geographic location (step 155). The accesscontrol service may, for example, determine if the coordinates or otherlocation information reported by a client fall within the boundaries ofa geographic location for which bot access control is provided. Inanother example, the access control service may determine if thecoordinates of the client are within a certain radius from the center ofthe geographic area.

If the client has entered a monitored area, then the access controlservice selects a messaging bot associated with the area (step 157).When just a single messaging bot is associated with a geographic area,that bot is selected. When multiple messaging bots are associated withthe geographic area, then the access control service may engage in aprioritization process, a bidding process, or some other mediation toselect one of the messaging bots. More than one bot may be selected insome cases.

Having selected the messaging bot, the access control service notifiesthe bot that access has been granted to it in order to initiate aconversation with the messaging client (step 159). Notifying the bot mayinclude, for instance, providing a service handle or alias to themessaging bot with which to communicate with the client. The accesscontrol service may provide additional information, such as the locationof the client or contextual information about the client known by theaccess control service.

FIG. 1C illustrates an operational scenario that may occur in thecontext of operational environment 100, to further explain accesscontrol for messaging bots. In operation, messaging bots 111, 113, and115 have been registered with access control service 101, and because ofthe registration process, associated with a specific geographic area.Table 110 is maintained by access control service 101 and indicates thespecific associations provided for in this example. While theassociations represented in table 110 are 1:1 (one bot for eachgeographic area), it may be appreciated that more than one bot could beassociated with a single geographic area. In this example, messaging bot111 is associated with geographic area 121; messaging bot 113 isassociated with geographic area 123; and messaging bot 115 is associatedwith geographic area 125.

Messaging client 103 periodically reports its location to access controlservice 101. Messaging client 103 may indicate its location in terms ofa latitude and longitude coordinates, the identity of a base stationserving the underlying device on which messaging client 103 runs, or theidentity of a wireless access point serving the device, for example. Theclient may even indicate location in terms of a specific place, zipcode, or other such information, if it is at the disposal of messagingclient 103. A variety of ways to indicate a location are possible andmay be considered within the scope of the present disclosure.

In this example, messaging client 103 has entered geographic area 123.According, the location information sent to access control service 101by messaging client 103 may indicate geographic coordinates that fallwithin geographic area 123, the name of a place or zip code within thearea, or the identity of a base station or other such wireless accesspoint within geographic area 123

Access control service 101 receives the location information andascertains that messaging client 103 is in a location that correspondsto geographic area 123. Following from that determination, accesscontrol service 101 then also determines that messaging bot 113 isassociated with geographic area 123. Accordingly, access control service101 grants messaging bot 113 with access to messaging client 103, for atleast an initial amount of time while messaging client 103 is ingeographic area 123.

Having been granted initial access to messaging client 103, messagingbot 113 attempts to engage the end user 106 in a conversation. Messagingbot 113 may send messaging client 103 a message that expresses agreeting, provides an introduction, or otherwise attempts to capture theattention of end user 106.

If end user responds and engages messaging bot 113 in a conversation,then access control service 101 may grant messaging bot 113 withsubsequent access to allow the conversation to continue. Access controlservice 101 detects a level of engagement on the conversation bymonitoring the back and forth messaging flow between the client and thebot.

In some cases, end user 106 may ignore messaging bot 113 entirely, inwhich case access control service 101 refrains from granting anysubsequent access. However, if messaging client 103 replies promptly tomessaging bot 113, replies regularly, or otherwise behaves in such a waythat indicates a sufficient level of engagement in the conversation,then access control service 101 provides the subsequent access. This maybe accomplished by, for example, refraining from blocking any message,refraining from changing the alias for messaging client 103, or in thecase of a changed alias, updating messaging bot with the new alias. Thesubsequent access may be maintained even if messaging client 103 departsfrom geographic area 123, so long as the level of engagement of end user106 remains sufficient.

Access control service 101 may prevent some messaging bots fromaccessing a client even upon re-entry by the client to a geographicarea. For instance, were end user 106 to ignore messaging bot 113,depart from geographic area 123, and then re-enter geographic area 123at a later time, access control service 101 may refrain from grantingany initial access to messaging client 113. Such a re-entry scenario maybe maintained for a certain amount of time, after which messaging bot113 would be granted access to messaging client 103 upon its re-entry togeographic area 123.

FIG. 2 illustrates operational environment 200 in anotherimplementation. Operational environment 200 includes access controlservice 201 and messaging service 203. Access control service 201 incommunication with service database 205 and controls bot access tomessaging clients on messaging service 203.

Operational environment 200 also includes messaging clients 211 and 213,and messaging bots 231, 233, 234 and 235. End users 212 and 214 areassociated with messaging clients 211 and 213 respectively. Enterprisedatabases 241, 243, 244, and 245 are associated with messaging bots 231,233, 234, and 235 respectively. Each messaging bot may include a botclient and a bot engine, of which bot client 237 and bot engine 239 arerepresentative.

In operation, messaging bots 231, 233, 234, and 235 are registered withaccess control service 201 and thereby associated with a particulargeographic location. For example, table 210 describes that messaging bot231 is associated with geographic area 221; messaging bot 233 andmessaging bot 234 are both associated with geographic area 223; andmessaging bot 235 is associated with geographic area 225.

FIGS. 3-5 illustrate various operational sequences to demonstrate accesscontrol for messaging bots with respect to operational environment 200.In FIG. 3, operational sequence 300 begins with messaging client 211entering geographic area 221. Messaging client 211 reports its locationto access control service 201, which responsively notifies messaging bot231 either directly or indirectly via some other element associated withthe messaging bot 231. Access control service 201 also communicates withmessaging service 203 to grant messaging bot 231 with initial access tomessaging client 211.

Messaging bot 231 proceeds to communicate with messaging client 211through messaging service 203. Messaging service 203 may apply a filterto messages addressed to messaging client 211 in order to allow or blockmessages from specific senders. So long as messaging bot 231 is in anaccess-granted state, messaging service 203 allows its messages to pass.However, if messaging client 211 fails to reply to messaging bot 231 atthe outset of a conversation, access control service 201 may instructmessaging service 203 to block any subsequent messaging attempts bymessaging bot 231.

Further in this scenario, messaging client 211 moves to a newlocation-geographic area 225. Messaging client 211 notifies accesscontrol service 201 in the normal course of operations, which triggersaccess control service 201 to select and notify messaging bot 234.Access control service 201 requests messaging service 203 to allowmessaging bot 235 to communicate with messaging client 211, but also toblock messaging bot 231.

Messaging bot 235 may henceforth converse with messaging client 211, atleast for an initial period. If messaging client 211 maintains asufficient level of engagement with messaging bot 234, the access maypersist. In the meantime, messaging bot 231 is restricted fromcommunicating with messaging client 211. Accordingly, messages sent bymessaging bot 231 are blocked in messaging service 203.

In an alternative scenario, it is possible for messaging bot 231 toretain its access to messaging client 211, even when messaging client211 leaves geographic area 221 and enters geographic area 225. This mayhappen when, for example, end user 212 is engaged in an ongoingconversation with messaging bot 231.

FIG. 4 illustrates another operational sequence 400 in animplementation. Operational sequence 400 beings with messaging client213 entering geographic area 223. Messaging client 213 reports islocation to access control service 201. Access control service 201responsively determines which one or more messaging bots are associatedwith geographic area 223. In this example scenario, both messaging bot233 and messaging bot 234 are associated with the area.

When two or more messaging bots are associated with a given area, accesscontrol service 201 may prioritize one over the other(s). In thisscenario, a bidding processed is utilized, whereby access controlservice 101 (or some other associated element, such as a bid platform),requests bids from messaging bot 233 and messaging bot 234. Themessaging bots 233 and 234 may then reply with bids that may beevaluated.

It is assumed here for exemplary purposes that messaging bot 234 hasoutbid messaging bot 233. Access control service 201 grants messagingbot 234 with access to messaging client 213 accordingly. This includesnotifying messaging bot 234 and providing an alias for messaging client213. Access control service 201 also requests messaging service 203 toallow messaging bot 234 to communicate with messaging client 213.Messaging bot 234 and messaging client 213 may then commence with amessaging conversation.

FIG. 5 illustrates operational sequence 500 in another implementation.In operational sequence 500, messaging client 211 has entered geographicarea 225 and reports its location to access control service 201. Accesscontrol service 201 selects messaging bot 235 based on its registeredassociation with geographic area 225 and responsively sends anotification to messaging bot 235 that messaging client 211 is in thearea. Access control service 201 also requests messaging service 203 toallow messaging bot 235 to communicate with messaging client 211.

To enhance the conversation between messaging bot 235 and messagingclient 211, access control service 201 queries service database 205 forcontextual information related to messaging client 211. The query mayinclude, for example, an identity of end user 212, an identity of theselected messaging bot (or an operational entity associated with thebot), or any other information that may be useful for retrievingcontext. Service database 205 replies with the contextual information,at least some of which access control service 201 provides to messagingbot 235.

Messaging bot 235 may use the contextual information to query enterprisedatabase 245 in order to fine information about messaging client 211 orend user 212 that may assist the messaging bot 235 with building aconversational context. Enterprise database 245 returns theenterprise-related contextual information to messaging bot 235.Messaging bot 235 can then construct a conversational context from theenterprise information. This allows messaging bot 235 to constructconversational strings that reference facts relevant to end user 212,especially with respect to the presence of end user 212 in geographicarea 225. Such a context may encourage end user 212 to engage withmessaging bot 235 in a conversation, thereby preserving its access tomessaging client 211.

FIG. 6 illustrates a user experience 600 in an implementation of botaccess control. User experience 600 involves communication device 601,which is representative of a mobile phone, tablet, laptop, or any othersuitable computing and communication device. A messaging applicationruns on communication device 601, which renders user interface 603 inits screen.

User interface 603 includes a home screen with various icons 611-621 forlaunching applications on the device. Each icon may correspond to anapplication, a contact, a file, or any other such element.

In operation, the messaging client periodically reports its location toan access control service in a messaging service. When an end userenters a geographic area that is associated with a messaging bot, theaccess control service identifies a geo-relevant bot and provides themessaging bot with access to the messaging client.

In this scenario, the communication device 601 has entered a geographicarea associated with a messaging bot that is affiliated with a hotel.The end user may have, for example, entered a hotel property.Accordingly, the messaging bot sends an introductory message to themessaging client that is surfaced in a message notification 625 in userinterface 603. The message in this instance is contextual in that themessaging bot recognized that the end user has a reservation at thehotel and that early check-in is available. Thus, the message promptsthe end user if he or she would like to check in early.

Assuming that the end user interacts with the message notification 625,user interface 603 transitions to a view 630 of the messaging client.The end user proceeds to engage in a conversation with the messagingbot, as represented in messages 631, 633, 635, and 637. Such an exchangemay be considered a level of engagement sufficient enough to quality themessaging bot to be automatically added to the end user's contacts.Thus, when the messaging client is exited and user interface 603transitions back to a view of the home screen, a contact notification645 may be surface to alert the end user to the fact that a contact hasbeen stored for the hotel's messaging bot. In this manner, the end useris able to navigate to a contact for the hotel bot, should he or shedesire to engage in another conversation.

FIG. 7 illustrates another user experience 700 in an implementation ofbot access control. User experience 700 involves communication device701, which is representative of a mobile phone, tablet, laptop, or anyother suitable computing and communication device. A messagingapplication runs on communication device 701, which renders userinterface 703 in its screen.

In operation, the messaging client periodically reports its location toan access control service in a messaging service. When an end userenters a geographic area that is associated with a messaging bot, theaccess control service may alert the messaging client to the fact that ageo-fenced messaging bot (or bots) are available nearby.

The messaging client surfaces view 705 in user interface 703 thatnotifies the user that bot services are available and provides graphicaloptions 707 and 709 for selecting yes or no to the services. Selectinggraphical option 709 (for no) would close the view 705. Selectinggraphical option 707 (for yes) transitions user interface 703 to a newview 710 that includes a list of at least some of the geo-relevantmessaging bots that are available to the user. In this example, the enduser has selected graphical option 707.

The identity of the messaging bots are determined by the access controlservice and are communicated to the messaging client for surfacing inview 710. In this example, a hotel-related bot is identified in visualelement 711; a dining-related bot is identified in visual element 713;and a retail-related bot is identified in visual element 715. The enduser may select any one or more of the visual elements in order toengage a given messaging bot in a conversation. In this example, the enduser has selected visual element 711.

Selecting visual element 711 launches a messaging view 720 that allowsthe end user to engage in a chat session with the messaging botassociated with the hotel. A series of messages 721, 723, and 725 areillustrated in an example of an exchange of messages that may occur inthe course of the conversation.

FIG. 8 illustrates computing system 801, which is representative of anysystem or collection of systems in which the various applications,services, scenarios, and processes disclosed herein may be implemented.Examples of computing system 801 include, but are not limited to, servercomputers, rack servers, web servers, cloud computing platforms, anddata center equipment, as well as any other type of physical or virtualserver machine, container, and any variation or combination thereof.Other examples may include smart phones, laptop computers, tabletcomputers, desktop computers, hybrid computers, gaming machines, virtualreality devices, smart televisions, smart watches and other wearabledevices, as well as any variation or combination thereof.

Computing system 801 may be implemented as a single apparatus, system,or device or may be implemented in a distributed manner as multipleapparatuses, systems, or devices. Computing system 801 includes, but isnot limited to, processing system 802, storage system 803, software 805,communication interface system 807, and user interface system 809.Processing system 802 is operatively coupled with storage system 803,communication interface system 807, and user interface system 809.

Processing system 802 loads and executes software 805 from storagesystem 803. Software 805 includes access control process 806, which isrepresentative of the processes discussed with respect to the precedingFIGS. 1-7, including process 150. When executed by processing system 802to provide access control with respect to messaging bots, software 805directs processing system 802 to operate as described herein for atleast the various processes, operational scenarios, and sequencesdiscussed in the foregoing implementations. Computing system 801 mayoptionally include additional devices, features, or functionality notdiscussed for purposes of brevity.

Referring still to FIG. 8, processing system 802 may comprise amicro-processor and other circuitry that retrieves and executes software805 from storage system 803. Processing system 802 may be implementedwithin a single processing device, but may also be distributed acrossmultiple processing devices or sub-systems that cooperate in executingprogram instructions. Examples of processing system 802 include generalpurpose central processing units, application specific processors, andlogic devices, as well as any other type of processing device,combinations, or variations thereof.

Storage system 803 may comprise any computer readable storage mediareadable by processing system 802 and capable of storing software 805.Storage system 803 may include volatile and nonvolatile, removable andnon-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storageof information, such as computer readable instructions, data structures,program modules, or other data. Examples of storage media include randomaccess memory, read only memory, magnetic disks, optical disks, flashmemory, virtual memory and non-virtual memory, magnetic cassettes,magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices,or any other suitable storage media. In no case is the computer readablestorage media a propagated signal.

In addition to computer readable storage media, in some implementationsstorage system 803 may also include computer readable communicationmedia over which at least some of software 805 may be communicatedinternally or externally. Storage system 803 may be implemented as asingle storage device, but may also be implemented across multiplestorage devices or sub-systems co-located or distributed relative toeach other. Storage system 803 may comprise additional elements, such asa controller, capable of communicating with processing system 802 orpossibly other systems.

Software 805 may be implemented in program instructions and among otherfunctions may, when executed by processing system 802, direct processingsystem 802 to operate as described with respect to the variousoperational scenarios, sequences, and processes illustrated herein. Forexample, software 805 may include program instructions for implementingan access control service (e.g. access control service 101 and 201).

In particular, the program instructions may include various componentsor modules that cooperate or otherwise interact to carry out the variousprocesses and operational scenarios described herein. The variouscomponents or modules may be embodied in compiled or interpretedinstructions, or in some other variation or combination of instructions.The various components or modules may be executed in a synchronous orasynchronous manner, serially or in parallel, in a single threadedenvironment or multi-threaded, or in accordance with any other suitableexecution paradigm, variation, or combination thereof. Software 805 mayinclude additional processes, programs, or components, such as operatingsystem software, virtual machine software, or other applicationsoftware, in addition to or that include access control process 806.Software 805 may also comprise firmware or some other form ofmachine-readable processing instructions executable by processing system802.

In general, software 805 may, when loaded into processing system 802 andexecuted, transform a suitable apparatus, system, or device (of whichcomputing system 801 is representative) overall from a general-purposecomputing system into a special-purpose computing system customized toprovide bot access control. Indeed, encoding software 805 on storagesystem 803 may transform the physical structure of storage system 803.The specific transformation of the physical structure may depend onvarious factors in different implementations of this description.Examples of such factors may include, but are not limited to, thetechnology used to implement the storage media of storage system 803 andwhether the computer-storage media are characterized as primary orsecondary storage, as well as other factors.

For example, if the computer readable storage media are implemented assemiconductor-based memory, software 805 may transform the physicalstate of the semiconductor memory when the program instructions areencoded therein, such as by transforming the state of transistors,capacitors, or other discrete circuit elements constituting thesemiconductor memory. A similar transformation may occur with respect tomagnetic or optical media. Other transformations of physical media arepossible without departing from the scope of the present description,with the foregoing examples provided only to facilitate the presentdiscussion.

Communication interface system 807 may include communication connectionsand devices that allow for communication with other computing systems(not shown) over communication networks (not shown). Examples ofconnections and devices that together allow for inter-systemcommunication may include network interface cards, antennas, poweramplifiers, RF circuitry, transceivers, and other communicationcircuitry. The connections and devices may communicate overcommunication media to exchange communications with other computingsystems or networks of systems, such as metal, glass, air, or any othersuitable communication media. The aforementioned media, connections, anddevices are well known and need not be discussed at length here.

User interface system 809 is optional and may include a keyboard, amouse, a voice input device, a touch input device for receiving a touchgesture from a user, a motion input device for detecting non-touchgestures and other motions by a user, and other comparable input devicesand associated processing elements capable of receiving user input froma user. Output devices such as a display, speakers, haptic devices, andother types of output devices may also be included in user interfacesystem 809. In some cases, the input and output devices may be combinedin a single device, such as a display capable of displaying images andreceiving touch gestures. The aforementioned user input and outputdevices are well known in the art and need not be discussed at lengthhere.

User interface system 809 may also include associated user interfacesoftware executable by processing system 802 in support of the varioususer input and output devices discussed above. Separately or inconjunction with each other and other hardware and software elements,the user interface software and user interface devices may support agraphical user interface, a natural user interface, or any other type ofuser interface.

Communication between computing system 801 and other computing systems(not shown), may occur over a communication network or networks and inaccordance with various communication protocols, combinations ofprotocols, or variations thereof. Examples include intranets, internets,the Internet, local area networks, wide area networks, wirelessnetworks, wired networks, virtual networks, software defined networks,data center buses, computing backplanes, or any other type of network,combination of network, or variation thereof. The aforementionedcommunication networks and protocols are well known and need not bediscussed at length here. However, some communication protocols that maybe used include, but are not limited to, the Internet protocol (IP,IPv4, IPv6, etc.), the transfer control protocol (TCP), and the userdatagram protocol (UDP), as well as any other suitable communicationprotocol, variation, or combination thereof.

In any of the aforementioned examples in which data, content, or anyother type of information is exchanged, the exchange of information mayoccur in accordance with any of a variety of protocols, including FTP(file transfer protocol), HTTP (hypertext transfer protocol), REST(representational state transfer), WebSocket, DOM (Document ObjectModel), HTML (hypertext markup language), CSS (cascading style sheets),HTML5, XML (extensible markup language), JavaScript, JSON (JavaScriptObject Notation), and AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML), as well asany other suitable protocol, variation, or combination thereof.

A technical effect that may be appreciated from the foregoingdescription includes the improved battery life and processing power thatresults from the elimination of extraneous of nuisance text messages. Inaddition, the user experience is improved by eliminating or at leastmitigating the occurrence of such bot-originated messages.

Certain inventive aspects may be appreciated from the foregoingdisclosure, of which the following are various examples.

EXAMPLE 1

A method for providing messaging bots with location-based access tomessaging clients, the method comprising: associating a plurality ofmessaging bots with a plurality of geographic areas; monitoring alocation of each messaging client of a plurality of messaging clientswith respect to each geographic area of the plurality of geographicareas; in response to when at least one of the messaging clients hasentered a one of the plurality of geographic areas as indicated by thelocation of the messaging client, granting a messaging bot associatedwith the geographic area with initial access to the messaging client, inorder to engage an end-user in a messaging conversation; and controllingsubsequent access to the messaging client based at least in part on alevel of engagement by the end-user with respect to the messagingconversation.

EXAMPLE 2

The method of Example 1 wherein controlling the subsequent access to themessaging client based on the level of engagement by the end-usercomprises preventing the messaging bot from communicating with themessaging client when the end-user neglects to engage the messaging boton the messaging conversation.

EXAMPLE 3

The method of Examples 1-2 wherein preventing the messaging bot fromcommunicating with the messaging client when the end-user neglects toengage the messaging bot on the messaging conversation comprisespreventing the messaging bot from communicating with the messagingclient upon re-entry by the messaging client into the geographic area.

EXAMPLE 4

The method of Examples 1-3 wherein controlling the subsequent access tothe messaging client based on the level of engagement by the end-usercomprises allowing the messaging bot to communicate with the messagingclient while the end-user remains engaged with the messagingconversation and until the end-user disengages from the messagingconversation.

EXAMPLE 5

The method of Examples 1-4 further comprising, in response to when themessaging client has entered the geographic area, identifying multiplemessaging bots associated with the geographic area, identifying themultiple messaging bots to the messaging client, and receiving aselection of the messaging bot from the messaging client.

EXAMPLE 6

The method of Examples 1-5 further comprising receiving a plurality ofrequests to register the plurality of messaging bots with the accesscontrol service and, in response to each request of the plurality ofrequests, verifying an association between the messaging bot and thegeographic area indicated in the request.

EXAMPLE 7

The method of Examples 1-6 further comprising, in response to theend-user engaging the messaging bot on the messaging conversation viathe messaging client, sending a contact to the messaging client forcontacting the messaging bot.

EXAMPLE 8

The method of Examples 1-7 further comprising identifying the messagingclient to the messaging bot by an alias with which to address messagessent during the messaging conversation to the messaging client.

EXAMPLE 9

An apparatus comprising: one or more computer readable storage media; aprocessing system operatively coupled to the one or more computerreadable storage media; and program instructions stored on the one ormore computer readable storage media that, when executed by theprocessing system to provide messaging bots with location-based accessto messaging clients, direct the processing system to at least:associate a plurality of messaging bots with a plurality of geographicareas; monitor a location of each messaging client of a plurality ofmessaging clients with respect to each geographic area of the pluralityof geographic areas; in response to when at least one of the messagingclients has entered a one of the plurality of geographic areas asindicated by the location of the messaging client, grant a messaging botassociated with the geographic area with initial access to the messagingclient, in order to engage an end-user in a messaging conversation; andcontrol subsequent access to the messaging client based at least in parton a level of engagement by the end-user with respect to the messagingconversation.

EXAMPLE 10

The apparatus of Example 9 wherein, to control the subsequent access tothe messaging client based on the level of engagement by the end-user,the program instructions direct the processing system to prevent themessaging bot from communicating with the messaging client when theend-user neglects to engage the messaging bot on the messagingconversation.

EXAMPLE 11

The apparatus of Examples 9-10 wherein, to prevent the messaging botfrom communicating with the messaging client when the end-user fails toengage the messaging bot on the messaging conversation, the programinstructions direct the processing system to prevent the messaging botfrom communicating with the messaging client upon re-entry by themessaging client into the geographic area.

EXAMPLE 12

The apparatus of Examples 9-11 wherein, to control the subsequent accessto the messaging client based on the level of engagement by theend-user, the program instructions direct the processing system to allowthe messaging bot to communicate with the messaging client while theend-user remains engaged with the messaging conversation and until theend-user disengages from the messaging conversation.

EXAMPLE 13

The apparatus of Examples 9-12 wherein the program instructions furtherdirect the processing system to, in response to when the messagingclient has entered the geographic area, identify multiple messaging botsassociated with the geographic area, identify the multiple messagingbots to the messaging client, and receive a selection of the messagingbot from the messaging client.

EXAMPLE 14

The apparatus of Examples 9-13 wherein the program instructions furtherdirect the processing system to receive a plurality of requests toregister the plurality of messaging bots with the access control serviceand, in response to each request of the plurality of requests, verify anassociation between the messaging bot and the geographic area indicatedin the request.

EXAMPLE 15

The apparatus of Examples 9-14 wherein the program instructions furtherdirect the processing system to, in response to the end-user engagingthe messaging bot on the messaging conversation via the messagingclient, add a contact to the messaging client for contacting themessaging bot.

EXAMPLE 16

The apparatus of Examples 9-15 wherein the program instructions furtherdirect the processing system to identify the messaging client to themessaging bot by an alias with which to address messages sent during themessaging conversation to the messaging client.

EXAMPLE 17

An apparatus comprising: one or more computer readable storage media;and program instructions stored on the one or more computer readablestorage media for operating a messaging client on a computing devicethat, when executed by a processing system on the computing device,direct the computing device to at least: report a location of thecomputing device to an access control service that associates aplurality of messaging bots with a plurality of geographic areas;receive a list of suggested messaging bots from the access controlservice that are associated with the location of the computing device;present the list of the suggested messaging bots in a user interface tothe messaging client; and in response to a selection of a suggestedmessaging bot from the list of suggested messaging bots in the userinterface, identify the suggested messaging bot to the access controlservice to grant the suggested messaging bot with access to themessaging client.

EXAMPLE 18

The apparatus of Example 17 wherein the program instructions furtherdirect the computing device to add a contact for the suggested messagingbot to a set of contacts in response to the selection of the suggestedmessaging bot.

EXAMPLE 19

The apparatus of Examples 17-18 wherein the program instructions furtherdirect the computing device to present an option in the user interfaceto prevent subsequent access to the messaging client by the messagingbot.

EXAMPLE 20

The apparatus of Examples 17-19 wherein, in response to anotherselection of the option in the user interface, the program instructionsfurther direct the computing device to communicate a request to theaccess control service to prevent the subsequent access.

The functional block diagrams, operational scenarios and sequences, andflow diagrams provided in the Figures are representative of exemplarysystems, environments, and methodologies for performing novel aspects ofthe disclosure. While, for purposes of simplicity of explanation,methods included herein may be in the form of a functional diagram,operational scenario or sequence, or flow diagram, and may be describedas a series of acts, it is to be understood and appreciated that themethods are not limited by the order of acts, as some acts may, inaccordance therewith, occur in a different order and/or concurrentlywith other acts from that shown and described herein. For example, thoseskilled in the art will understand and appreciate that a method couldalternatively be represented as a series of interrelated states orevents, such as in a state diagram. Moreover, not all acts illustratedin a methodology may be required for a novel implementation.

The descriptions and figures included herein depict specificimplementations to teach those skilled in the art how to make and usethe best option. For the purpose of teaching inventive principles, someconventional aspects have been simplified or omitted. Those skilled inthe art will appreciate variations from these implementations that fallwithin the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will alsoappreciate that the features described above can be combined in variousways to form multiple implementations. As a result, the invention is notlimited to the specific implementations described above, but only by theclaims and their equivalents.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method of operating an access controlservice to control access to messaging clients, the method comprising:in the access control service: associating a plurality of messaging botswith a plurality of geographic areas; monitoring a location of eachmessaging client of a plurality of messaging clients with respect toeach geographic area of the plurality of geographic areas; in responseto when at least one of the messaging clients has entered a one of theplurality of geographic areas as indicated by the location of themessaging client, granting a messaging bot associated with thegeographic area with initial access to the messaging client, in order toinitiate engagement with an end-user in a messaging conversation;determining a level of engagement by the end-user with the messaging botin the messaging conversation; determining whether to grant themessaging bot with subsequent access to the messaging client based atleast in part on the level of engagement by the end-user with respect tothe messaging conversation; and when the end-user neglects to engagewith the messaging bot in the messaging conversation, preventing themessaging bot from communicating with the messaging client upon re-entryof the messaging client into the geographic area.
 2. The method of claim1 wherein preventing the messaging bot from communicating with themessaging client upon re-entry of the messaging client into thegeographic area is limited by timers, wherein the timers are set tore-grant access to the messaging bot once a period of time has elapsed.3. The method of claim 1 further comprising in response to the messagingclient re-entering the geographic area, granting a different messagingbot associated with the geographic area with initial access to themessaging client, in order to initiate engagement with the end-user in adifferent messaging conversation.
 4. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising allowing the messaging bot to communicate with the messagingclient while the end-user remains engaged with the messagingconversation and until the end-user disengages from the messagingconversation.
 5. The method of claim 1 further comprising, in responseto when the messaging client has entered the geographic area,identifying multiple messaging bots associated with the geographic area,identifying the multiple messaging bots to the messaging client, andreceiving a selection of the messaging bot from the messaging client. 6.The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a plurality ofrequests to register the plurality of messaging bots and, in response toeach request of the plurality of requests, verifying an associationbetween the messaging bot and the geographic area indicated in therequest.
 7. The method of claim 1 further comprising, in response to theend-user engaging the messaging bot on the messaging conversation viathe messaging client, sending a contact to the messaging client forcontacting the messaging bot.
 8. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising identifying the messaging client to the messaging bot by analias with which to address messages sent during the messagingconversation to the messaging client.
 9. An apparatus comprising: one ormore computer readable storage media; a processing system operativelycoupled to the one or more computer readable storage media; and programinstructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage mediathat, when executed by the processing system to operate an accesscontrol service to control access to messaging clients, direct theprocessing system to at least: in the access control service: associatea plurality of messaging bots with a plurality of geographic areas;monitor a location of each messaging client of a plurality of messagingclients with respect to each geographic area of the plurality ofgeographic areas; in response to when at least one of the messagingclients has entered a one of the plurality of geographic areas asindicated by the location of the messaging client, grant a messaging botassociated with the geographic area with initial access to the messagingclient, in order to initiate engagement with an end-user in a messagingconversation; determine a level of engagement by the end-user with themessaging bot in the messaging conversation; determine whether to grantthe messaging bot with subsequent access to the messaging client basedat least in part on the level of engagement by the end-user with respectto the messaging conversation; and when the end-user neglects to engagewith the messaging bot in the messaging conversation, prevent themessaging bot from communicating with the messaging client upon re-entryof the messaging client into the geographic area.
 10. The apparatus ofclaim 9 wherein prevent the messaging bot from communicating with themessaging client upon re-entry of the messaging client into thegeographic area is limited by timers, wherein the timers are set tore-grant access to the messaging bot once a period of time has elapsed.11. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising in response to themessaging client re-entering the geographic area, grant a differentmessaging bot associated with the geographic area with initial access tothe messaging client, in order to initiate engagement with the end-userin a different messaging conversation.
 12. The apparatus of claim 9wherein the program instructions further direct the processing system toallow the messaging bot to communicate with the messaging client whilethe end-user remains engaged with the messaging conversation and untilthe end-user disengages from the messaging conversation.
 13. Theapparatus of claim 9 wherein the program instructions further direct theprocessing system to, in response to when the messaging client hasentered the geographic area, identify multiple messaging bots associatedwith the geographic area, identify the multiple messaging bots to themessaging client, and receive a selection of the messaging bot from themessaging client.
 14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the programinstructions further direct the processing system to receive a pluralityof requests to register the plurality of messaging bots and, in responseto each request of the plurality of requests, verify an associationbetween the messaging bot and the geographic area indicated in therequest.
 15. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the program instructionsfurther direct the processing system to, in response to the end-userengaging the messaging bot on the messaging conversation via themessaging client, add a contact to the messaging client for contactingthe messaging bot.
 16. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the programinstructions further direct the processing system to identify themessaging client to the messaging bot by an alias with which to addressmessages sent during the messaging conversation to the messaging client.17. An apparatus comprising: one or more computer readable storagemedia; and program instructions stored on the one or more computerreadable storage media for operating a messaging client on a computingdevice that, when executed by a processing system on the computingdevice, direct the computing device to at least: report a location ofthe computing device to an access control service that associates aplurality of messaging bots with a plurality of geographic areas;receive a list of suggested messaging bots from the access controlservice that are associated with the location of the computing device;present the list of the suggested messaging bots in a user interface tothe messaging client; in response to a selection of a suggestedmessaging bot from the list of suggested messaging bots in the userinterface, identify the suggested messaging bot to the access controlservice to grant the suggested messaging bot with access to themessaging client in order to initiate engagement with an end-user in amessaging conversation; determine a level of engagement by the end-userwith the messaging bot in the messaging conversation; determine whetherto grant the messaging bot with subsequent access to the messagingclient based at least in part on the level of engagement by the end-userwith respect to the messaging conversation; and when the end-userneglects to engage with the messaging bot in the messaging conversation,prevent the messaging bot from communicating with the messaging clientupon re-entry of the messaging client into the geographic area.
 18. Theapparatus of claim 17 wherein the program instructions further directthe computing device to add a contact for the suggested messaging bot toa set of contacts in response to the selection of the suggestedmessaging bot.
 19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the programinstructions further direct the computing device to present an option inthe user interface to prevent subsequent access to the messaging clientby the messaging bot.
 20. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein, prevent themessaging bot from communicating with the messaging client upon re-entryof the messaging client into the geographic area is limited by timers,wherein the timers are set to re-grant access to the messaging bot oncea period of time has elapsed.